THUNDER BAY – Growing up, Jared Staal and his brothers spent countless hours pretending to be their own NHL heroes, in epic road hockey battles in their parents’ driveway.
Stanley Cups were won and lost on a daily basis, the competition fierce.
The third annual Fountain Tire Summer Classic, the kickoff to the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada’s Staal Foundation Open, will be a little more relaxed, but instead of dreaming about playing alongside NHL greats, five lucky youngsters will actually get the chance to don a jersey and join in the fun as part of Team Staal.
On Thursday tournament officials launched the countdown to the July 9 event, inviting youngsters aged seven to 12 to sign up to take part in a three-week fundraising campaign to earn one of three spots in the Fountain Tire Summer Classic, the top three getting automatic spots.
The other two spots will be filled in a draw, each entrant earning one ballot for every $20 raised.
“I remember growing up on the driveway and having that feeling of pretending you’re one of your favourite players and trying to score a goal. To do that with a crowd and with actual NHL players and hall-of-famers, as a kid growing up has got to be incredibly special,” said Staal, the youngest of four-hockey playing brothers, who walked away from the game this year after a nine-year career that saw him play two NHL contests with the Carolina Hurricanes.
“I’m almost 30 years old, so I can only imagine being a kid like that to get that opportunity.”
Over its first two years, the game has raised more than $75,000 for the Northern Cancer Fund, which Staal said is a huge reason why he and his brothers, who oversee the Staal Family Foundation, take part each year.
“It raises a significant amount of money, which stays here in Thunder Bay, which is awesome,” he said.
The winning entrants will be chosen a little differently than in 2016 and 2017, the video contest eliminated for 2018.
Instead those interested in playing in the game, staged in the Whitewater Golf Club parking lot, can register on line, where they’ll be challenged to fundraise as much as they can between May 14 and June 4.
Contestants can gain additional ballots by completing other tasks, such as explaining why they want to take part or submitting a video.
Lindsay Doran, an e-Philantrophy officer at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, said the sheer amount raised always surprises her.
“It means a lot to the Foundation, to this hospital, to cancer care in this region,” she said. “It’s a big deal.”
To sign up, visit www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/teamstaal.
